BOTANICAL APPENDICES 
227 
APPENDIX I. 
The following essay on the “Useful Trees of British Central xAfrica ” is the 
prize essay among several sent in from the native scholars of the Blantyre 
Mission Schools (Church of Scotland) to compete for a prize I offered for the 
best description in the Ci-nyanja language of the Useful Trees of the 
Protectorate. 
The essay here given was written in Ci-nyanja by Harry Kambwiri, one of 
the native scholars of the Mission, and has been kindly translated for me into 
English by the Rev. Alexander Hetherwick, M.A., of the Church of Scotland 
Mission.—H. H. J. 
AN ESSAY ON 
THE USEFUL TREES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 
By HARRY KAMBWIRI 
Chirania grows near marshy ground, or in the middle of the marsh itself. It is of 
smooth bark, in parts scaly. It bears a fruit which is used as medicine for pleuritic 
or neuralgic pains in the chest. The fruit is plucked, then roasted by the fire, and applied 
to the painful spot, for the relief of the pain. 
Chandimbo 1 grows on any kind of sandy soil. It has an edible fruit, black in colour 
On removing the outer rind it is found exceedingly pleasant, or on simply chewing in the 
mouth it resembles a sweetmeat. The wood of it is used for making pestles, spoons, 
pillows and drums. It is apt to crack. The tree is not a pretty one; it has a large 
number of branches ; the wood is not hard ; it is useless as a firewood ; cuttings 
planted out grow well, and are employed as fencing poles. 
Msuko 2 grows on sandy soil, and nowhere close to water. Its fruit reaches maturity 
in October, and is edible in November and December. When the fruit is ripe it 
falls of itself, and is picked up as an edible fruit exceedingly good. In famine seasons 
people squeeze the fruit into a dish, mash it up, and eat it. 
The wood of it is used for boards, which are good for tables, chairs, desks, etc., etc. 
The boards are red in colour, but are apt to crack. If left, however, till thoroughly dry 
it does not crack. 
It is used by women as firewood for burning pots, plates, etc., but it leaves a very 
abundant ash. 
It is employed in medicine. Pieces are chipped off and steeped. The water is then 
drunk. It has an astringent taste. 
It is not a deep rooter—only the tap root goes down any distance. 
It is good for charcoal making; also is used for couples, etc., in house-building, as 
it cannot be bored by wood insects. If the seeds are planted they grow into a tree, but 
very slowly. 
ATpindimbi 3 grows on sandy soil near water. The fruit is edible, but bad smelling, 
and is usually only eaten by animals. The timber is white, and is easily made into 
boards. If cut green the wood cracks, but not if cut dry. It is made into spoons, 
mortars, pillows, etc. One species, called chipindimbi , is used in medicine. If a child 
is feverish its leaves are taken and pounded and mixed with water, in which the child 
is then bathed. 
1 Erythrina to/nentosa (?).—H. H. J. 3 Uapaca liirkiana .—H. H. J. 3 Vitex sp.—I I. II. J. 
